I’m currently in the process of reviewing the Sony NEX-7 camera so I was in Souk Mubarkia over the weekend taking some photos when I found the Mubarak Kiosk open and decided to check it out.
The function of the kiosk changed a lot over the years, originally in 1934 the kiosk was the first independent legal court in Kuwait. Later it was rented and used as a pharmacy an then as a post office run by the British. At the end of the 1950s the kiosk was used as a public library and 60s forward the top floor was used as a photography studio while the ground floor was turned into a samboosa shop. In 2010 the National Council for Culture Arts and Letters took over the kiosk and renovated it from ground up and turned it into a museum.
The museum is pretty small but that doesn’t really matter. The fact that the kiosk was renovated and turned into a historical site is what’s important and they really need to continue renovating more and more old buildings. It’s not worth driving all the way to Souk Mubarkia just to visit this museum but if you’re in the area it’s interesting to see. They have an iPad on the top floor in the back corner that has a photo gallery of old pictures of Kuwait as well as pictures of the kiosk from the outside and inside before and during renovation. I thought that was very interesting and even tried emailing the photos to myself using their iPad but failed (didn’t have access to the home button).
If you want to pass by here are their opening hours:
Summer Visiting Hours
Saturday to Friday
9AM to 12PM – 4:30PM to 8:30PM
Saturdays and Fridays they’re closed in the morning
Sunday they’re closed in the evening
Winter Visiting Hours
Saturday to Friday
9AM to 12PM – 4PM to 8PM
Ramadan Visiting Hours
Saturday to Friday
9AM to 12PM – 8:30PM to 11PM
(First days of Eid they’re closed)
Update: Below is a picture of the kiosk taken by John Newton back in 2009. I can’t believe how much the whole area has changed.
9 replies on “Mubarak Kiosk”
Provided the iPad is up to date you could have pinched the screen with 5 fingers to access the home screen
it wasn’t up to date sadly and it also didn’t have the Assistive Touch option under accessibility
That’s my great grandfather’s pharmacy right there. I need to go there sometime and take some shot too.
A book about Abdalillah Al-Jna’i titled دوا خانه was published recently to document his massive contribution to Kuwait. You can find it in AlIjairy bookstore (مكتبة العجيري)
Nice find, will visit for sure!
Beautiful,Kuwait needs more places like this!
Check the Mubarakiya School, the History of Education Museum is located inside the school. The school is next to Mubarakiya Market and Jewelry shops. Also, check Sadu House, Bait Al-Bader, and the Red Fortress.
The shop has been part of my guided tour around old Kuwait since I participated in a tour by a local historian. I have pictures taken in 2003 and 2009 and it looks rather different! I haven’t visited the new version yet, but looking at the pictures, wonder if I actually approve! Here is a 2009 version :-
https://i.imgur.com/KMV7n.jpg
The kiosk was established in 1897, a year after Sheikh Mubarak’s ascension to the throne, to be used as a seat of government & to meet the Kuwaitis and discuss the regional & international matters. The kiosk was used as a post office, court, and a pharmacy when the Seif Palace was constructed in 1904. Your comments about the photoshop and samboosa shop are accurate, Mark. Dr. Yagoub Al-Ghnaim wrote many columns about the historical & cultural significance since 2007 in Alwatan newspaper. Unfortunately, he wasn’t credited for his pleads. Anyway, I went to the kiosk & felt that they did a superb job in recreating the kiosk. Both lower & upper museums were restored to show the young clueless generation about the rich history of Kuwait. Btw, there were 2 kiosks in Al-Mubarakiya Market; eastern & western. This is the western kiosk.